About Us

Early Learning Labs grew from decades of nationally-recognized research and innovative collaboration at the University of Minnesota. Comprised of field-experienced experts, our team offers early childhood educators and care-providers with evidence-based solutions for their classrooms.

While studies provide evidence that early skill development has a wide-impact on a child’s long term academic outcomes, more than one-third of America’s young children enter kindergarten lacking the skills crucial to school success. It’s our mission to address this issue and impact the lives of children everywhere.

Our early childhood assessment program, myIGDIs, help teachers and parents better monitor the development of their young children. The myIGDIs measurement indicators also enable early childhood educators to identify children at-risk of poor learning outcomes early and monitor development goals often.

Our Team

Steve Johnson

President

Steve is an active entrepreneur and received his degree from the University of Minnesota in 2009. While at the University of Minnesota, he played a role in the formation of multiple University spin-out companies. Afterwards, Steve was involved in two early stage companies, both based on commercializing research and intellectual property. In 2011, Steve helped found Early Learning Labs and currently serves as the company President.

Dena Roberts

Director of Professional Development

Dena Roberts has worked in Early Childhood for the past 20 years. She has worn many hats in the early childhood field from teacher, assistant director, coach and most recently trainer. Dena received her degree in Early Childhood Education and currently has her teaching licensure. Dena worked in St. Paul as a coach with Project Early Kindergarten implementing the Early Childhood Workshop through trainings and coaching and also co-wrote a curriculum that is currently being used in Family Childcare settings in St. Paul. Dena also has worked as a CLASS coach with Parent Aware and supported early childhood centers in achieving accreditation. Dena has facilitated and created many trainings designed for Early Childhood children and staff with the focus on literacy, math and MTSS/RtI implementation.

Scott McConnell, PhD

Senior Advisor of Research & Development

Co-founder of Early Learning Labs and Co-creator of IGDIs, Dr. McConnell earned his PhD at the University of Oregon and is currently a Professor of Educational Psychology and Child Psychology at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Early Education & Development (CEED). In 2008-2009, Dr. McConnell served as the Fesler-Lampert Chair in Urban and Regional Affairs and also devotes time to the University’s Northside Initiative. In addition, Dr. McConnell also leads Minnesota’s efforts in collaboration between the University of Kansas, Ohio State University, and Dynamic Measurement Group (DMG) called the Center on Response to Intervention in Early Childhood (CRTIEC).

Kathy Schatz

Controller

Kathy has over 20 years of extensive accounting and management experience. She has worked in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, health club, retail, construction, and medical. She has found her niche helping small businesses with their accounting and management needs. Kathy graduated with a B.A degree in Accounting from St. Catherine University.

Alisha Wackerle-Hollman, PhD

Vice President of Research

Dr. Wackerle-Hollman is the vice president of research at Early Learning Labs and a research associate with the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wackerle-Hollman currently holds the role of project coordinator for the Center for Response to Intervention in Early Childhood. Dr. Wackerle-Hollman has contributed to IGDI development since 2005 and currently works on the research and development of future measures including identification and progress monitoring measure development. Dr. Wackerle-Hollman’s research interests include development of early literacy and language, measure development, research to practice application, progress monitoring, community based and participatory action research, parenting intervention, children’s literature and school readiness.